Am I Too Old for Muay Thai?

The short answer is no, you are never too old to start training Muay Thai. In fact, there are even some benefits to starting later in life. That said, it’s not all roses for people who start doing anything at an advanced age, especially martial arts. As Alby Tam of Combat Culture explains in the below video clip, there are pros and cons that any older person who has an interest in Muay Thai should know about.

Muay Thai in Thailand and the U.S.

In Thailand, most people start training Muay Thai when they are very young, often as young as 4 or 5. It is part of their cultural identity, and it is also far more prevalent in that country. In the United States, this is less common because Muay Thai is still not as well-known as other forms of martial arts like karate and taekwondo because a lot of gyms that offer Muay Thai classes don’t really cater to children that young. It is far more common for people to start training while they are teenagers if they hope to become professional fighters.

That said, it is entirely normal for people to start cross training Muay Thai a bit later in life after learning other martial arts. For example, someone may have been training jiu-jitsu since they were very young but may realize that they need to develop a more effective striking technique if they want to go into mixed-martial arts fighting.

For people who are less interested in going pro and just want to learn self-defense, get in shape, and maybe compete in a few low-stakes competitions, there is no age limit. Alby began his Muay Thai training at the age of 27 and he knows people who are several decades older than him who have thrived after starting in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, though they did face some limitations.

Con: Learning a New Skill is Taxing

Learning a new skill at an older age is mentally tough. It’s tough because you have to leave your comfort zone and be a novice again. To put it bluntly, you will have to remember what it’s like to suck at something and reexperience not being good at a thing that you want to do. This can be unnerving. However, practice will make you better. If you’re realistic and capable of telling yourself that the early efforts are worth it, it will be easier to endure those first few months.

Con: Your Body Changes

Another downside about starting Muay Thai at an older age is that it takes longer to recover. You cannot bounce back like you once did. Moreover, people start to experience some loss in flexibility and agility as they enter middle age. These are the two main reasons why it may not be realistic to think that you can start a career as a professional fighter at the age of 40, though you can definitely start learning self-defense and get in shape starting at any age.

Con: You Have More Responsibilities

If you are older, you will likely have more responsibilities than a teenager or a person in their early 20s. Your job will likely be more demanding, and you may have a family who depends on you. This can make it very difficult to regularly go to the gym Muay Thai.

Pro: You Have More Money

Conversely, one of the good things about starting Muay Thai at an older age is that you are likely less broke than you were as a young adult. As Alby says, having more disposable income means you may not even have to go to the gym at a time that’s inconvenient for you. You may be able to schedule one-on-one sessions with an instructor and to build out a home gym.

Pro: You Are Wiser

As we age, we tend to become less controlled by our emotions, which can help us be more methodological and precise fighters. As Alby says, this allows us to fight smarter, not harder. This kind of efficiency allows us to conserve energy and wear down our opponents.

You Set the Pace

No matter what your goals are, it’s important to speak with your instructor early on and tell them what you hope to achieve. They will help explain what kind of program is appropriate given your aims and what is realistic. While going pro may be too ambitious for those who begin training Muay Thai later in life, there is no age limitation for those who want to use Muay Thai as a way to get in shape, learn self-defense, and become part of a community.